The Commission Streamlining Task Force

San Francisco's government is about to undergo big changes. Thanks to 2024's Prop E, a new Commission Streamlining Task Force is hard at work studying our commission system and preparing recommendations to improve it.

The Current Status

Commissions can serve vital roles in our city government, but layers of rules have made them unable to work effectively or efficiently. Policy improvements get caught up in ideological gridlock, thousands of hours of staff and citizen time is wasted in redundant processes, and progress grinds to a halt.

San Francisco has many more commissions than cities of much bigger than itself, and a unique structure that limits the mayor's ability to govern the city. Here’s an example of the breadth of commissions our government has:

• San Francisco has over 115 commissions with more than 1,200 commissioners—far more than comparable cities
• Some commissions are central and well-known—like the Police Commission, Planning Commission, and MTA Board—but many others operate with limited impact or overlapping functions
• Vacancy rates run high—roughly 15% of seats are often unfilled—meaning many commissions can’t meet due to lack of quorum
• 21 commissions are considered "borderline inactive" – meaning they barely ever meet or are more than 25% vacant

This sprawling, fragmented system can slow down decision-making and blur responsibility, leading our city government to prioritize process over outcomes.

What Is Prop E?

Prop E, passed by voters in November 2024, created a Commission Streamlining Task Force. Made up of appointees from the City Administrator, Controller, City Attorney, the Mayor, and an organized labor representative chosen by the Board of Supervisors, its mission is to conduct a comprehensive review of the city’s commission system and propose reforms.

While the Commission Streamlining Task Force doesn’t directly eliminate or restructure commissions, it will make high-quality recommendations that lay the blueprint for meaningful, evidence-based overhaul. The Task Force is already holding public meetings, soliciting input, and preparing recommendations for how San Francisco can make governance faster, clearer, and more accountable.

While GrowSF opposed Prop E on the ballot over concerns of it being a poison pill for reform, we're thrilled to be proven wrong! The task force seems to be working effectively and honing in on positive changes. But we will keep our eye on their reports to make sure they carry positive change over the finish line.

Looking forward

San Francisco deserves a government that works and delivers its core services efficiently and effectively. That means a modern and responsive commission structure that can better support the Mayor and Board of Supervisors. When power is paired with accountability, voters know who to reward—or fire—at the ballot box. Fewer commissions, clearer leadership, and real accountability: that’s how we deliver results.

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Prop E Commission Timeline

Here's the key schedule for when the Commission Streamlining Task Force is expected to deliver its work, based on the charter and supporting analysis:

• By September 1, 2025: The Board of Supervisors’ Budget and Legislative Analyst will publish a financial report showing current commission system costs and potential savings from consolidation or elimination.
• By February 1, 2026: The Task Force submits its final recommendations—on which commissions to modify, consolidate, or eliminate—to the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors. If any charter reforms are necessary based on the final recommendations, the City Attorney shall prepare the charter reform ballot measures.
• By April 1, 2026: The Board of Supervisors must hold a hearing on the recommendations and any draft charter amendments. The Board is not obligated to bring any charter reforms to the ballot. However, if the task force introduces regular ordinances to reform the commissions that exist in the municipal code, the ordinances would be deemed approved unless the Board rejects them with a two-thirds supermajority.
• November 3, 2026: Any charter amendments will go before voters in the next regular election

Updates

Source: https://media.api.sf.gov/documents/2025-08-21_CSTF_Decision_Log.pdf